Financial Behavior Change

When you are working hard to stretch every single dollar, picking up a hobby can feel like a luxury you just don’t have the time or money for. You might think, “I need to focus on my bills right now, not wasting money on crafts or side projects.” But behavioral science shows that having a hobby isn’t a distraction from your goals; it is actually one of the strongest financial defense systems you can build.

First: Let’s Understand What a Hobby Actually Is. A hobby is simply any regular activity you choose to do in your free time for pure enjoyment, relaxation, or personal fulfillment, not because a boss told you to, and not because you are getting paid for it. It is an intentional break from your daily chores, work shifts, and parenting duties. This doesn’t mean you have to buy a mountain of expensive gear or become a master artist. If it engages your mind, lowers your stress, and brings you a little bit of quiet joy, it is a hobby.

My Hobbies Became My Secret Weapon. I learned that having a hobby was my secret weapon for my bank account because of my own life journey. I started crocheting years ago. Learned in prison. This was not the space I wanted to be in to learn much of anything, but I made it work and it helped me not only remain sane in an already unruly place, but it helped with the passing time. Reading is another hobby of mine, one I picked up as a kid, though. Reading was an escape for me growing up. I would curl up in the corner of my room on the floor near a window and read these teen novels that were always about other teens struggling with friends, parents, or relationships be it a crush or friendship. I didn’t have many friends. Didn’t want many people around me, and this left me plenty of time to read alone. I read everything! Novels, the dictionary, finance books my mom had sitting around (because she was going to school for something I didn’t know of at the time), magazines, newspapers, and even medical books. Whatever had words on it, I read it!

When we are exhausted or stressed from the daily grind, our brains naturally crave a quick hit of comfort or excitement, and we often fall in to “The Boredom Spending Trap“. If your calendar is completely blank after a long shift, it is incredibly easy to fall into the “scroll and spend” loop. You pull out your phone, browse online stores, or order convenience items simply because your brain is looking for something to do. Spending becomes the default hobby when you don’t have a regular outlet. It creates a trap that feels good at the time but leaves you low and depressed after, when you realize you may have forgotten an important bill that is coming up. Maybe it’s a bill that’s not so important, but it does need to be paid. Amazon was my kryptonite! Sites like Temu made things look reasonable, and Afterpay made it easier to pay for by breaking it down into four payments! But let’s face it: If you can’t afford the full cost of what you are shopping for at the time, do not buy it at all. This is the beginning of stopping unnecessary buying.

Don’t have a hobby? Can’t afford craft items? NO WORRIES! No hobby has to look the same. Reading, journaling, or just sitting outside for a beat are all completely uncostly ways of developing a hobby. Figure out a free & low-cost way to build your own defense that works FOR YOU. This hobby can be something as simple as giving yourself time to unwind in complete silence. You can use YouTube completely for free to search for relaxing tunes that only have soft musical tones. Try this defense system this week:

Just sit: Sit and let yourself think. Sit and enjoy the soft tunes and let them relax your mind and your body.

Make a drink: I love a good cup of coffee or tea. If this is your thing, make one before sitting down. The idea is to be clear headed while you relax.

Go on Focus Mode: Put a timer on for 30 minutes to an hour in the clock app of your cell phone. Put your phone on FOCUS so you do not get any disturbances (only giving access to people you need to hear from in case of an emergency).

Having a regular hobby turns your free time into Financial Protection whether it’s crocheting a blanket, pressing vinyl designs onto t-shirts, or reading a great book next to a warm cup of coffee, gives your hands and your brain a completely different job to do. Engaging your mind in a quiet craft lowers your daily anxiety levels. When you are actively working on a creative project, your phone is down. You aren’t browsing shopping apps because your mind is already fully engaged and fulfilled. I know people who hate reading. Well there is this amazing thing called AUDIOBOOKS that will save you from that. The LIBBY app is for borrowing books online for free saving time and money because you don’t have to leave your home to do it and you and listen while doing whatever else you choose to do. Using materials, you already have around the house saves you money. The goal is giving your brain a safe, cozy space to rest.

Banish the guilt. Taking time for yourself isn’t selfish, and it isn’t a waste of money. It is the very thing that keeps your mind calm and your spending system completely secure.

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